Albion target the high flyers

Oct 17 2008 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING Albion boss Allan Moore is looking forward to the match against league leaders Brechin City tomorrow (Saturday) – hoping to put a dent in their unbeaten record.

The Angus outfit are the only side in the Second Division to have gone through the first quarter without registering a loss but Moore hopes to send them back home from Forthbank with a big “1” in their losses column.

“Brechin City are up there flying at the moment,” said Moore, “and it should be a cracker of a game.

“We should have beaten them in the first game of the season but a late goal killed us.

“We’re hoping that will change on Saturday.”

The loss of late goals by Albion has crippled their season so far – as well as Brechin’s 85th-minute winner, the Binos have lost points through last-ditch strikes by Raith Rovers and Queen’s Park.

A lack of goals at the other end has seen Moore contemplating pairing Ian Harty and John O’Neill tomorrow against Brechin in a bid to kick-start the season.

“We’ve played everybody now and it’s a league where all the teams can points off each other,” said Moore. “No-one is going to run away with it this season.”

It’s a sentiment that his assistant John O’Neill agrees with. “We should be further up the league than we are,” he said. “We’ve played all the top teams and they are no better than us – perhaps a couple of them have been a bit more ruthless in front of goal but that’s what the game is all about, putting the ball in the net.”

O’Neill may join Harty up front against Brechin but Moore is looking for goals from his other players. “Chris Aitken wasn’t everyone’s favourite but he chipped in with a number of important goals,” he said.

“Against Queen’s Park I may have made a mistake by bringing on Steven Waddell for Martin Grehan instead of David McKenna but he had done well in reserve matches and deserved a chance.”

Two players who have impressed Moore in recent weeks are Nathan Taggart and David Lowing – but he said they still have more to do.

“When Nathan is on his game he is different class,” said Moore. “I’ve told him, though, that he won’t be judged on what he does in the middle of the park when he beats players for fun – his final ball is lacking sometimes and that’s something we have to work on.

“David Lowing had a difficult time when he joined us but over the past few weeks his fitness levels have improved and we’re seeing a big difference in his game.”